Microsoft has introduced Dragon Copilot, an AI-driven voice assistant designed to alleviate administrative burdens for healthcare professionals.
The new tool combines the voice dictation features of Dragon Medical One, developed by Nuance, a leader in AI voice recognition that Microsoft acquired in 2021 for approximately $16 billion, and the ambient listening capabilities of DAX Copilot.
According to a recent blog post from the company, the goal is to allow clinicians to refocus on patient care. Joe Petro, corporate vice president of Microsoft Health and Life Sciences Solutions and Platforms, stated, “At Microsoft, we have long believed that AI has the incredible potential to free clinicians from much of the administrative burden in healthcare and enable them to refocus on taking care of patients.”
The introduction of Dragon Copilot reflects Microsoft’s continued investment in AI solutions for healthcare.
Early data suggests a positive impact. Microsoft’s internal surveys showed that clinician burnout decreased from 53% in 2023 to 48% in 2024, a trend attributed to technological advancements.
Dragon Copilot is designed to assist doctors by:
- Retrieving information from medical sources.
- Automating note-taking.
- Generating post-visit summaries and referral letters.
- Allowing for easy editing of existing documentation.
Patient feedback has also been positive. Microsoft reported that 93% of participating patients described their overall experience as “better.”
Dragon Copilot will be accessible via mobile app and web browser, enabling integration with relevant online health records.
Starting in May, Dragon Copilot will be generally available in the U.S. and Canada, with plans for gradual expansion to the U.K., Netherlands, France, and Germany.
